Building from the Ground Up: 20 Years of Community Economic Development in New Jersey

Founded in 1989, the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is celebrating 20 years of
helping community developers create homes people can afford, expand economic opportunities, and build communities
where residents can pursue their dreams. We could never capture in a short report all of the ways in
which our members have helped people to improve their lives and the communities where they live, work, and go to school. So consider that the few organizations profiled here represent dozens of others that are working in countless
ways to improve prospects for families and communities in New Jersey, Whether place-based or population-based, whether they
serve a single neighborhood, a county, or the whole state, Network members are united by a consistency in values and mission that highlights the importance of engaging
residents in determining their plans and priorities, of expanding housing and economic opportunities, and of promoting social justice.
Over our 20-year history, the landscape for community developers has undergone many dramatic shifts. Yet in the face of sometimes daunting challenges, the Network has
grown, and our accomplishments, and those of our members, have continued to increase. Highlights include:
• As of 2009, Network members have created or preserved more than 26,000 affordable homes and more
than 3,200 supportive housing units.
• Network members employ nearly 10,000 people. They have trained more than 10,500 residents for
employment and have helped nearly 3,650 residents move into permanent jobs.
• Nearly half of all Network members are engaged in economic or workforce development initiatives.
These organizations have constructed or renovated more than 840,000 square feet of commercial space
and helped revitalize numerous commercial corridors and business districts.
• More than 20 members have created participatory neighborhood revitalization plans and have used their
plans to leverage millions of dollars of public and private investment to rebuild urban neighborhoods
from Paterson to Vineland and from Asbury Park to Trenton.
As you will see, New Jersey’s community-based development organizations have made great strides in giving their
constituents the tools to improve their communities and their lives. Through the years, they have demonstrated
creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurship, qualities that have played no small role in ensuring that they
continue to achieve and thrive. As we and our members look to the next 20 years, our agenda is clear. Taking into
account lessons we have learned since 1989 and current
challenges, we will work together to:
• Better define and demonstrate the impacts of the
work of CDCs and other community-based organizations;
• Change the CDC resource mismatch;
• Build a rational and predictable housing delivery system;
• Address the shortage of seasoned CDC staff and leaders;
• Pursue more strategic collaborations, consolidations,
and mergers;
• Increase coalition building and advocacy; and
• Integrate new technologies and strategic directions into our work.
Network staff, Executive Board, and members are proud of what we have accomplished in our first 20 years, and
we are ready to achieve greater things in the next 20. We hope you will join us so that together we can continue to
build strong communities and homes New Jerseyans can afford.

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Founded in 1989, the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is celebrating 20 years of
helping community developers create homes people can afford, expand economic opportunities, and build communities
where residents can pursue their dreams. We could never capture in a short report all of the ways in
which our members have helped people to improve their lives and the communities where they live, work, and go to school. So consider that the few organizations profiled here represent dozens of others that are working in countless
ways to improve prospects for families and communities in New Jersey, Whether place-based or population-based, whether they
serve a single neighborhood, a county, or the whole state, Network members are united by a consistency in values and mission that highlights the importance of engaging
residents in determining their plans and priorities, of expanding housing and economic opportunities, and of promoting social justice.
Over our 20-year history, the landscape for community developers has undergone many dramatic shifts. Yet in the face of sometimes daunting challenges, the Network has
grown, and our accomplishments, and those of our members, have continued to increase. Highlights include:
• As of 2009, Network members have created or preserved more than 26,000 affordable homes and more
than 3,200 supportive housing units.
• Network members employ nearly 10,000 people. They have trained more than 10,500 residents for
employment and have helped nearly 3,650 residents move into permanent jobs.
• Nearly half of all Network members are engaged in economic or workforce development initiatives.
These organizations have constructed or renovated more than 840,000 square feet of commercial space
and helped revitalize numerous commercial corridors and business districts.
• More than 20 members have created participatory neighborhood revitalization plans and have used their
plans to leverage millions of dollars of public and private investment to rebuild urban neighborhoods
from Paterson to Vineland and from Asbury Park to Trenton.
As you will see, New Jersey’s community-based development organizations have made great strides in giving their
constituents the tools to improve their communities and their lives. Through the years, they have demonstrated
creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurship, qualities that have played no small role in ensuring that they
continue to achieve and thrive. As we and our members look to the next 20 years, our agenda is clear. Taking into
account lessons we have learned since 1989 and current
challenges, we will work together to:
• Better define and demonstrate the impacts of the
work of CDCs and other community-based organizations;
• Change the CDC resource mismatch;
• Build a rational and predictable housing delivery system;
• Address the shortage of seasoned CDC staff and leaders;
• Pursue more strategic collaborations, consolidations,
and mergers;
• Increase coalition building and advocacy; and
• Integrate new technologies and strategic directions into our work.
Network staff, Executive Board, and members are proud of what we have accomplished in our first 20 years, and
we are ready to achieve greater things in the next 20. We hope you will join us so that together we can continue to
build strong communities and homes New Jerseyans can afford.